Detachable heel lift



July 2, 1935. B. JASSEN DETACHABLE HEEL LIFT Filed Oct. 51, 1933 u n n mv ATTORNEY Patented July 2, 1935 DETACHABLE HEEL LiF'r Bern Jass en,Brooklyn, N. Y;

Application October 31,

1933, seriei'No, 95,987

My invention relates to removable or detachable lifts for footwear,together with meansfor detachably securing a lift to the article offootwear. In my application Serial No. 6'7 3,412, filed 5 May 29, 1933,I showed and described a detachable heel lift wherein the lift is shownas pressed against the heel by means of a spiral spring.

The object of the present invention is to provide a detachable liftsuitable for use on mens 10,. and boys shoes and OXfOldS, as well aswomens sporting shoes, or other articles of footwear. Since the heels offootwear of this type are com paratively lower in height than the higherheels of womens and girls dress shoes and the like,

15. there is less capacity in the vertical direction-for the employmentof a coiled spring of suflicient capacity to hold the lift in place.

I have, in the present case, provided a leaf springv for pressing thelift against the bottom of the heel as distinguished from a spiral orcoiled spring, so that the present type of spring, 1'. e., leaf spring,of sufficient strength and capacity, may be enclosed within a heel ofthe lower type, that is to say, within the type of heel employed in mensand boys shoes and Oxfords and womens sport shoes. With this type ofspring I am enabled to'incorporate it in the types of heels referred toand still have sulficient capacity in the movement of the spring 30; forthe manipulation of the lift in the manner described herein, and to alsohave sufiicient' strength in the spring to hold the larger size liftfirmly against the bottom of the heel throughout the extent of the lift.

The lift is detachably applied to a holder or plate which seats within apocket of the lift, and the lift with the plate referred to is adaptedto be held slightly separated from the bottom of the heel against thetension of the spring, while '40. the lift is being attached to orremoved from the holding plate. When this plate and the lift are turnedto register with the bottom of the heel, the means which previously heldthe lift separated from the heel is drawn upwardly. by the springconcealed within the heel, and the lift is pressed tightly against thebottom of the heel where it is held until such time as it is necessaryor desirable to remove the lift to replace it with a new one. r

The lift may be made of rubber, leather, or other material although inthe drawing I have shown it as made of rubber or rubber composition.When the lift wears out or wears uneven, and it is desirable to replaceit, it is only necessary to pull the lift downwardly from the heel andthen turn it to lock the lift holding plate separated from the-,heelr,While the parts are in this condition the worn lift may be removed bysliding. it off the holding plate and a new lift may be applied toreplace the, removed one by simply sliding it over the holding plate andthen turning the lift and the plate to register with the heel.

The wearerv requires. no tools to make the change and the'change fromone set of lifts, to another requires but a few seconds of time toexecutel It is intendedthat the lifts with the plates, hereinafter to bedescribed, shall be sold as articles of manufacture to be applied to anyformof footwear to which my invention has been pp l A '-T 2' i I'MyQin'vention may and will inmany cases be applied toffootwear whilethe same is being made in a factory, but it is, also possible to applymy invention .to footwear. after it has passed from the factory into thehands of the consumer.

I I Other advantages and improvements will be set forth in thefollowingdetailed description of my invention. 1 I Y In the drawingforming part of this application,

Figure 1 is an inverted'plan viewof a portion of an article of folotwearhaving my invention embodied therein inwhichyiew parts are broken awayto show some of the interior construction,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line '3-3 of Figure 2, V

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the lift and the liftcarrying plate turned at an angle or to a position suitable for removingor replacingthe-lift,

f Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l,- i 1Figure 6 is a brokenplan view of the lift and the plate attached to it,

' Figure '7 is a sectional I---'! of Figure 6, 1 f g Figure {8 is aninverted/plan view of the lift carrying 'plate'and the plate which isattached to thelheelthese parts being. illustrated detached from theheeland lift structures,

FigureQ is'an edge view of the parts shown in Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a bottom or inverted plan view of a heel having a modifiedform of my invention applied thereto, and

, Figure '11 is a sectional view-on an enlarged scale and taken on theline I |-H of Figure 10.

'I will first describe the form of my invention view taken on the lineshown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive. I have shown only a portion of anarticle of footwear, to wit, the heel portion, which is the part towhich my present invention relates.

I have shown a fragment of the upper I above the heel portion of thearticle of footwear, together with the portion 2 of the article offootwear which forms a heel seat 3 against which the shaped or top sideof the heel 4 is adapted to seat. I have also shown the inner lining 5although this is not related to my invention as it is made the same asin ordinary footwear. The heel 4 is provided with a shaped or curved topsurface 6 to conform to and snugly fit against the heel seat 3.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 9, the heel may beattached permanently to the heel seat in the same manner as ordinaryheels of this type are attached to articles of footwear, which may be bymeans of tacks and cement, or in any other approved manner, or it may beattached by the prongs of the heel plate as hereinafter described. Theheel is shown as provided with a slight depression 1 shaped to conformto the plate 8 which is seated in this recess and is held therein bymeans of the four lugs 9, I projecting upwardly from the plane of theplate 8 and which extend partly or wholly through the heel 4 with theirends clenched for the purpose of securing the plate 8 against the underside of the heel as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The plate 8 has otherprongs I near its rear end, which are adapted to enter correspondingslots formed in the top side of the heel lift, as will be set forthhereinafter.

by having a portion of the neck extend through a slot in the middle ofthe leaf spring and having the end turned over or riveted as shown at Hito firmly secure the spring to the neck member or a screw may be passedthrough the spring and be threaded into the neck portion l4, as

shown in Figure 3.

This neck member, when in register with the longitudinal slot l2 in theheel plate 8 is adapted to project through this slot and thus allow thelift carrying plate l5 to be pressed upwardly by the leaf spring. Thetwo outer ends of the leaf spring are slightly curved as shown at l land these curved ends seat against the upper surface of the heel plate8. It will be apparent that the tendency of the leaf spring is to pressthe neck member [4, and therefore the lift carrying plate, upwardly inFigures 2 and 3.

The neck member I4 is so connected with the spring that it may turn orpivot in relation thereto and the spring is prevented from turning withthe neck member by indentations I8 formed in the heel plate 8 as shownin Figure 8. These projections lie on opposite sides of each end of thespring as shown in Figure 8, and prevent the spring from turning withthe member l4. While this construction is preferable, .it is notimperative.

The lift carrying member is shown in Figure 8 as having a curved rearportion H! with a straight edge 20' adjacent the breast end of the lift.The

lift, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, consists of a body of rubber, leathercomposition, or other material. In the preferred form the lift consistsof a body of rubber or rubber composition suitably moulded andvulcanized. This conforms with the shape of the heel and forms the mainbody of the lift. There is a plate 2| recessed in the top surface of thelift and preferably this is placed in the mould when the lift isvulcanized, so that portions of the lift material enter apertures 22 inthe plate, so that the plate and the body 23 are vulcanized together andremain connected as if they were one body. The lift is formed with apocket 24 which is preferably curved at the rear end. This pocketextends under the thin wall 25 of the body 23 and under a portion of theplate 2 i, as shown in Figures 6 and '7.

The plate 2| does not extend to the breast of the lift except for theend extensions 26 but the intermediate portion terminates at the line 21which is spaced backwardly of the front line 28 of the pocket 24. Theplate 2| and the thin wall 25 of the lift have corresponding slots 28extending from the front end 2'! of the plate to a point toward the rearof the plate, the slot being of sufficient width and length toaccommodate the neck M of the lift carrying plate when the latterregisters therewith. The pocket 24 of the lift is adapted to receivetherein the lift carrying plate !5 which is preferably shaped to conformwith the pocket as shown in the drawing.

The forward portion 38 of the pocket 24, in view of the proportions ofthe parts stated above, remains uncovered by the plate 2 i so that thereis an opening extending crosswise of the heel lift which is adapted toreceive therein either the block 44 attached to the heel as shown inFigure 10, or to receive the upstanding lugs 32 formed on the forwardmember 33 of the heel plate 8 for the purpose of preventing the liftfrom turning or shifting when clamped against the bottom of the heel.

As the pocket 24 is not carried to the breast of the heel, there is awall 3 across the front of the pocket which is the full depth of thelift, and this wall serves to close the front of the pocket to excludedirt and moisture from the interior parts. Preferably, when the 111' tis moulded, it is provided around the top edge with a slight projection35 so that when the lift is held tightly against the heel, the lip 35will be compressed so that there will be no separation at any pointbetween the outer edge of the lift and the heel.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive the heelplate 8 will be assembled with the leaf spring as shown in Figures 8 and9.

The heel will be prepared by forming the pocket 7 to receive the heelplate or the heel may be made with this recess in it. The assembled heelplate may then be attached to the bottom of the heel by means of a pressor otherwise by forcing the four lugs 9, l0 through the heel andclenching them on the upper side of the heel; or, if desired, theseprongs may be made long enough to extend not only through the heel butthrough the heel seat, to be clenched on the upper side of the wall 3 ofthe shoe, so that the prongs not only hold the heel plate in positionupon the heel, but also attach the heel to the heel seat. If thisarrangement is not desired, the prongs may simply pass through the heeland be clenched at or adjacent the top surface of the heel. Thisoperation firmly and permanently secures the heel plate to the underside of the heel with the prongs aooaoos H extending dovmwardly and withthe members 82 also extending downwardly.

The spring has a constant tendency to draw the lift carrying plate isupwardly or toward the bottom of the heel. When the neck portion llregisters with the slot 12 of the heel platethe spring draws the latterupwardly against tliebottom side of the heel plate.

To attach a lift the lift carrying plate is is drawn downwardly or awayfrom the heel-against the opposition of the leaf spring; and the plate15 is turned after the neck '14 has moved wt of the slot I? so that thisneck lies at an angle to the slot I! as shown in Figure 8, or at anyother suitable angle. When in this position, the upper end of the neckrests against the bottom surface of the heel plate, whereupon thelift'carrying plate is held separated from the heel plate, as shown inFigure 5, ready for the application of the lift to the lift carryingplate.

The lift is then presented with the open'portion 36 of the pocket 2dagainst the curved rear end of the plate 15 whereupon the lift is movedforwardly over the plate I with the latter moving down into the pocket24 under a portion of the lift and under a portion of the plate II. Ifthe lift is made of compressible material such as rubber, the-front wall34 at the breast of the lift may be more or less compressed or deflectedwhile this operation is taking place.

when the lift has been completely slid onto the plate 15 the forward endof this plate will prefembly coincide with the portion 2! of the plate8, leaving the portion 30 of the pocket in the lift unobstructed. Duringthis operation the neck I of the lift plate slides in the slot 23 andremains therein so that the lift plate and the lift will thereafter turnas a unit.

If the form of heel plate shown in Figures 8 and flare employed, thenwhen the lift and lift plate are turned so that the neck 14 registerswith the slot 12 in the heel plate, the neck will enter this slot, andthe lift plate together with the lift will be drawn upwardly by theaction of the leaf spring until'thetop surface of the lift and the topsurface of the plate seat snugly against the bottom surface of the heel.When this occurs, the projections 32 on the front end of the heel platewill be received into the portion 30 of the pocket 24 so that the heellift cannot turn or shift in relation to the heel unless the heel liftand its carrying plate areforced downwardly against the opposition ofthe spring. In other words, as long as the heel lift remains pressedagainst the heel, it cannot turn or shift because of the projections 32of the heel plate. The prongs I I adjacent'the rear of the heel platealso enter small slots at the rear of the lift and also serve to preventthe lift from turning when seated against the heel. 7

It will be apparent that by employing a leaf spring to force the liftagainst the heel, I am enabled to employ a spring of ample strength andyet apply the same in a recess of a heel of comparatively lowconstruction. Furthermore, the two ends of the spring having theirbearings against the top of the heel plate at considerable distancesfrom the middle portion of the spring, there is considerable leveragewhich has the effect of amply holding a rather large lift and preventingit from tilting in relation to the heel. This type of spring, therefore,secures a relatively large Iift tightly against the bottom of the heeland in the case of large heels it is capable of tightly holding the liftin place.

the heel and as shown Figures and 1 1-. In

this construction the several prongs H shown in the previousconstruction of the heel plate may be omittedand the shape of the heelplate may be varied as shown in Figure 10, so that it has a ratherhorseshoe contour around its outer edge. The heel plate is shown at 36and it will be understood that the lift holding plate 31 willbe the sameas the" one previously described, and it will be attached to the heelplate in the same manner and will be provided with the "same kind of Thereal difference in the construction resides in the method of attachingthe heel plate to the heel.

For this purpose I have shown several, to wit,

three sleeves 38 having one end each riveted in apertures in the heelplate 36 with the sleeve portions extending upwardly into suitableapertures 3'! in the heel. Not only is the heel provided with theseseveral apertures, but the heel seat =40 is also provided withcorresponding apertures whichare preferably countersunk to receive theheads 41 of screws which ext-end through the apertures in the heel seatand screw into the threaded interiors of the sleeves 38. ably applied atopposite front corners of the heel plate and another at'the back of theheel plate, as shown in Figure 10,although the number and distributionmay be varied. It will be observed that these sleeves and screws servethe double purpose of attaching the heel plate 35 in are ceiving recess42 in the heel and also secure the heel to the heel seat. Otherwise, thedevice operates the same as in the first construction.

Ihave shown a pin or peg 43 in the heel adjacent the back of the heelplate-and projecting below the bottom of the heel; and this pin servesthe same purpose as theprongs ll in the first construction. That is tosay, it enters the lift when the latter is drawn up against the bottomof the heel and serves to prevent the heel from turning or shifting whenit is in operative position.

' I have shown a block 44 which may be formed integral with the heel orwhich may be attached thereto; and this'block is received into the frontportion 30 of the pocket 24 of the lift when the latter is in operativeposition and it serves the same as the'projections 32 and prevents theheel from turning or shifting when in active position.

If desired, the heel proper 4 may be cast or moulded from compositionmaterial which may or may not include some percentage of rubber. Oneadvantage of this is that the top shaped surface 6 of the heel, insteadof being formed by expensive methods after the heel is made, may beformed in a mould when the heel is being moulded or cast.

In other words, instead of making a heel of leather and then forming thecurved surface 6 and cutting out the recess I2, the entire heel may bemoulded in one operationwith these features formed at the time the heelis moulded, thus reducing the cost of the heel. The heel thus made maybe attached to theheel seat in any of the difi'erent ways describedherein.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided a, device whichis very compact and suitable for use in heels of shallow depth; whichprovides means for quickly detaching and replacing the lift and whichwill, without screws or One of these attachments is prefer otherdetachable members, firmly hold the lift in place. The device permitsthe lift to be quickly removedwithout the use of any tool and withoutthe wearer resorting to the services of the shoe repairer.

The use of the leaf spring enables me to secure a firm pressure of thelift against the heel and at the same time arrange the device within ashallow heel. The employment of the wall 34 across the front of theportion 30 of the lift pocket protects the interior parts against dustor moisture and it also hides the interior parts so that the finishedheel and lift have the same appearance as the ordinary correspondingparts of standard footwear. The different metallic parts of the devicemayall be made by stamping so that the total cost of the device addslittle, if anything, to the cost of the footwear.

By making the lifts as shown in Figures 6 and '1 they are sufficientlyrigid or resistant to bending to permit the successful use of the liftwith the other features of my invention. The reinforcing plate 2| servesboth to stiffen the lift against bending and to provide the necessarystrength in the top wall above the pocket 24 to hold firmly the lift tothe lift carrying plate I5.

While I have shown and described my invention in the preferred forms ingreat detail, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myinvention to the particular forms herein shown and described except asto those claims which are specifically limited to such details.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an article of footwear a heel, a heel plate attached thereto andhaving a slot, a lift plate adapted to receive and hold a lift againstthe bottom of the heel, a neck portion on said lift plate adapted toenter the slot of the heel plate when registered therewith and adaptedwhen drawn outwardly and turned at an angle to said slot, to hold thelift plate in position to receive a heel lift thereover, and a leafspring engaging said heel plate and acting on said neck portion to drawthe latter upwardly through the aperture of said heel plate whenregistered therewith for the purpose of pressing the lift against theheel.

2. An article of footwear having a heel, a heel plate attached heretoand having a slot, a lift plate adapted to receive and hold a liftagainst the bottom of the heel, a neck portion on said lift plateadapted to enter the slot of the heel plate when registered therewithand adapted to be held against turning while in said slot and adaptedwhen drawn outwardly with said lift plate and turned at an angle to saidslot to engage the bottom of the heel plate to hold the lift plate inspaced position from the heel to receive a lift thereover, and a springengaging said heel plate and pivotally connected with said neck portionand adapted to draw the latter upwardly through the aperture of saidheel plate when registered therewith, for the purpose of pressing thelift against the heel.

3. In an article of footwear, a heel having a recess, a. heel plateattached thereto and extending across said recess and having a slot, alift plate adapted to receive and hold a lift against the bottom of theheel, a neck portion on said lift plate, adapted to enter the slot ofthe heel plate when registered therewith and adapted to be held againstturning while in said slot, said lift plate and neck portion adapted. tobe drawn outwardly away from the heel and to be turned at an angle tosaid slot whereby the neck portion engages the bottom of said heel plateto hold the lift plate spaced from the heel to receive a lift thereon,and a leaf spring disposed in the recess of said heel, said springengaging the top of the heel plate and acting on said neck portion todraw the latter upwardly through the aperture of said heel plate whenregistered therewith, for the purpose of pressing the lift against theheel.

4. A device of the class described including an article of footwearhaving a heel seat, a heel fitting against said heel seat, a heel plateon the bottom side of said heel, sleeves on said plate extendingupwardly into said heel and screws extending through said heel seat andthreaded into said sleeves for securing the heel and the heel plate tothe heel seat, a lift plate adapted to receive and hold a lift andhaving a neck portion, said heel plate having an aperture to receivesaid neck portion therein and a leaf spring acting on said neck portionto move said lift plate toward said heel plate.

5. As an article of manufacture, a heel lift having a pocket extendinglongitudinally therein and provided with a laterally extending openingat the breast end of said pocket, said pocket adapted to receive a liftplate longitudinally therein, said lift having a slot extendingrearwardly from said forward opening in which the neck portion of thelift plate may move, and a stiffening plate imbedded in said lift andextending over a substantial portion of said pocket.

6. As an article of manufacture, a heel lift including a major body ofmoulded material formed with a pocket adjacent the upper side of saidbody and extending horizontally over the major portion thereof, saidlift having a lateral opening at the breast end of said pocket and ametal stiffening plate imbedded and moulded with said body to remainpermanently attached thereto, said stiffening plate covering asubstantial portion of said pocket and having a slot extendinglengthwise of the lift from said open end to form an opening through onewall of said pocket in which the neck portion of a lift plate may move.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a heel lift having a pocketextending longitudinally over a substantial portion of the lift adaptedto receive a lift plate horizontally in said pocket, said lift having atop wall extending over the top of said pocketand terminating behind theforward end of said pocket, said lift having a wall at the breast endthereof to form a closure for the forward end of said pocket, said topwall having a slot extending therethrough and running from the front endof said top wall backwardly and in which the neck of a lift plate isadapted to move.

BERN JASSEN.

